Portable console for all PC games - PGS

Hello, dear forum users. Soon we are planning to announce the
PGS – a portable gaming console with Windows onboard (also comes with Android in Dual boot mode), which will be capable to run all games for PC, including those of AAA class of the current generation.

Currently we are analyzing and testing a prototype of the device and want to be sure that our project is as best as possible, before continuing to its manufacturing and realization stages. To understand that, we are asking for your help, tips, ideas and suggestions.

This device is based on a system with Cherry Trail chipset from Intel and Atom x7-Z8750 quad-core processor as the heart of it, as well as built-in HD Graphics video card of the current generation. Even though the performance level of such system is not as high as for the most advanced classic desktop solutions, it still can run the vast majority of modern games in HD-resolution and minimal graphics level. We didn't want to use processors from Core M line intentionally, because even though the have higher price and power consumption, they are not significantly more powerful than x7. Preliminary tests of our prototypes gave us the following results:

Are you interested in FPS rate for any other game? Please, let us know and we will test it and publish results.

– OPERATING SYSTEM –

The main operating system of PGS is Windows 10 (x64). Keeping in mind that our device is using the PC-compatible architecture, you are free to install on PGS not only games, but also any type of software, which was created and developed for PC. The level of performance allows users to run even such demanding programs as Z-Brush, 3D Max, After Effects and many other. It's obvious that you can also install Steam to download and play games from your library. In other words, you are getting not only the functionality of a portable console, but also a mini-laptop, which can be connected to a display, wireless manipulators in order to use it as a basic replacement for your classic desktop PC.

The secondary operating system is Android. Keeping in mind that the device is equipped with a LTE module, you are able to use this device as a high-performance smartphone, call, write SMS and do other things any time when it's necessary.

– RAM AND MEMORY –

The console has 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM onboard, which uses 2-channel mode. Such volume of RAM can't be considered as low even for a desktop, thus, it's not going to affect the performance level of our product. Talking about permanent storage space, we can say that the console is equipped with a SSD-disk of 128GB. A MicroSD card slot allows users to get up to 256GB of free memory.

– COOLING SYSTEM –

This device is equipped with a passive cooling system (a copper radiator, which transmits heat to the case of the device), which allows to avoid processor overheating, as well as one very annoying thing, which is called CPU Throttling. Keeping in mind almost miserable TDP of the chipset, our device will never reach uncomfortable temperatures.

– MAIN DISPLAY –

The main display of the console has QHD-resolution (HD for PGS Lite). Why not FHD? The thing is that HD-resolution is an optimal one for games to play with such diagonal. Only QHD allows showing HD-stream without any distortion, drawing 4 pixels instead of 1 physical. The display is using IPS technology, which provides high brightness and contrast, impeccable color accuracy, short response time and wide viewing angles. All these features are supported with an average level of power consumption and low price of the matrix.

– ADDITIONAL DISPLAY –

We are really proud with the additional (lower) display of our console. It supports HD-resolution and also uses IPS technology. This display can serve as the second monitor (basic Windows functionality), a touchpad and a virtual keyboard. When used as the second display, it can show virtually everything. It can be an image, web-browser, media player and many other applications.

– COMPOSITION AND MATERIALS –

The main materials of PGS are ultra durable plastic and aluminum. Metal is used for all the elements, which require metal, while plastic - for all the elements, which require plastic. A simple and elegant approach.

– AUDIO –

PGS is equipped with a 5-channel sound system. Even though the device is pretty small, you will easily feel 3D effect in games, which support it. High quality speakers will provide you with crystal-clear and expressive sound, which can fill even an average room or a premise

– CONTROLLING ELEMENTS –

In order to be called a gaming console, especially on Windows, our device needs a full range of physical controlling elements. PGS has all necessary elements, including even analog sticks, triggers and other keys, which are necessary for all the games, which support gamepads. You don't have to spend your precious time, setting necessary keys manually, because all input devices of PGS are using DXINPUT emulation mode.

In order to play games, which don't support gamepads (old games, or RTS games), you can always reassign key actions, making them typical for any PC-keyboard. Analog sticks can also emulate a computer mouse movements and actions. Don't forget that you can use the additional display as a touchpad.

– POSSIBLE PRICE –

We are lucky, because Microsoft graciously gives free Windows 10 licenses for all devices with the diagonal less than 10 inches. Furthermore, very lavish Intel company currently actively subsidizes its Intel Atom processors. All these factors together allow us to choose a price of around 250$ (210$ for PGS Lite).

– POSSIBLE UPGRADES –

Dear forum users, we also want to discuss with you possible upgrades and additions to our console:

Key illumination - this upgrade will not seriously affect the price and power consumption, but will allow users to see keys in the dark.

Color illumination of the device border (similar to Ambilight) – this upgrade will not seriously affect the price and power consumption, but will make it more interesting and attractive for users.

Changing Atom X7 with Core M – this upgrade will seriously affect the price and power consumption, but will increase the performance level by 15-30%.

XL-version of the device in the model range – for those, who want 7 inches.

A pico projector in the higher version - this upgrade will seriously affect the price of the device.

Changing permanent storage with more fast one (500 Mbit/s instead of 150 Mbit/s) - this upgrade will seriously affect the price of the device.

Factory GPU acceleration - this upgrade will increase the performance level by 10-30%, but will also increase its power consumption.

Usage of Amoled matrix instead of IPS – this upgrade will affect the price of the device, but will also increase brightness level of the display.

Additional eINK display in PRO version of the console. It doesn't consume battery when its image is static. Keeping in mind that such display is sensor, it can be used to show keyboard (or any other app or image), which will not affect the power consumption level. This upgrade will seriously affect the price of the device.

– OUR CONTACTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION –

Out of respect for the forum, I propose to all questions and suggestions to discuss right here.

LegendVeteranSubscriber

For starters, I think you need analog triggers. Yes, that could become a big hindrance if you want to make it slim and sleek, but there just aren't any games not using analog triggers nowadays.

I would get rid of the Android dual boot feature. It'll only get in the way and make you spend unnecessary work hours on stuff that rarely works as it should.
I mean sure, keep it as an option for home-brewers but just don't keep it as something you must support.

What do you mean with "factory GPU acceleration"? A discrete GPU?
That would definitely give it a much higher performance bump than Core M, even using a GM208, but you would need a complete console redesign.
Or perhaps you meant "factory GPU overclock"?

Lastly, with a price difference of $40, I don't see the point in the Lite version. I would get it if it was $200 to $300, but $210 to $250 seems like a no-brainer to me, even if the Pro version is indeed thicker.

Like he said, Intel is subsidizing those Atoms, meaning AMD couldn't keep it with those sub-$30 prices even if they wanted.
They could go with a Carrizo at 15W, but that would require an even bigger redesign than a Core M.

LegendVeteran

It's only a picture, but at last here is a tiny PC with a keyboard. Could be a phone (ARM etc.) or PDA thing, but a real PC is fine too.
It looks like the UMPC ca. 2005, there was the Toshiba Libretto in the late 90s with real Windows 95 before.
UMPC / ultra-laptops weren't a big success, simply such hardware used to cost somewhere around $3000 to $5000.

It's been so long : now I'm bored. I would have had a tiny PC 10 years ago if I could, with Windows XP, games, student work and various stuff. Now I guess it would be yet another web browser and linux desktop, with not enough storage for tons of music/video.

Lots of those games are 0fps. If it's real then I'd suggest it needs both a better CPU/GPU and a much larger battery.
Why not something like a more modern mobile AMD APU?

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Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately, in the world there is no mobile GPU capable at low power consumption to greater performance on Windows, rather than a system on a chip Intel Atom Z8750. And it's not even the fact that the chips from AMD or Intel Core M, strongly increase the price of the device, the reason in the first place in energy consumption.

For starters, I think you need analog triggers.
I would get rid of the Android dual boot feature.
I mean sure, keep it as an option for home-brewers but just don't keep it as something you must support.
What do you mean with "factory GPU acceleration"?
Or perhaps you meant "factory GPU overclock"?

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1. Thanks for the comment. PGS have analog triggers, of course:
2. Most users do not need experience in Android, but for sure there is one to whom it is useful. Embed naked Android and its basic support for us is not a significant problem.
3. Unfortunately, the PGS is not a discrete graphics card. We have in mind the factory overclocking on Intel Atom chip, equipped with an integrated graphics accelerator.

LegendVeteranSubscriber

I didn't see any analog trigger, only analog sticks.
The trigger is what goes to the index finger:

It seems to me that what you have is two shoulder buttons for each side, not triggers.
This will limit its usage greatly, specially in racing and flying simulators where the analog triggers are used to emulate the gas pedal or the thrusters.

We have in mind the factory overclocking on Intel Atom chip, equipped with an integrated graphics accelerator.

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If you can, then I think you should overclock the integrated GPU but not the CPU. I would try do so while underclocking and undervolting the CPU cores (e.g. 1.8-2.0 GHz), though. You may get more overclocking headroom and be less thermally limited.

I didn't see any analog trigger, only analog sticks.
It seems to me that what you have is two shoulder buttons for each side, not triggers.

If you can, then I think you should overclock the integrated GPU but not the CPU. I would try do so while underclocking and undervolting the CPU cores (e.g. 1.8-2.0 GHz), though. You may get more overclocking headroom and be less thermally limited.

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Thank you for your detailed comment. Despite its small size, our "shoulders" keys perceive the pressing pressure. We understand how important it is for racing games.

Thanks for the offer, we will try to add the ability to select the power mode. In power saving mode the CPU frequency and voltage will be limited. And in maximum power mode on the contrary, the frequency will be increased. It is a good idea, thank you.

LegendVeteranSubscriber

we will try to add the ability to select the power mode. In power saving mode the CPU frequency and voltage will be limited. And in maximum power mode on the contrary, the frequency will be increased. It is a good idea, thank you.

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Actually, what I meant was, for a gaming mode, to in fact decrease the CPU frequency in order to get more power and thermal envelope (and eventual overclocking headroom) for the GPU.
The truth is that with the Atom's low power GPU, the 4-core Atom @ 2.5 GHz is an overkill. Decreasing CPU speeds (e.g. 1.5GHz base clock and 1.8 GHz boost clock) would bring a relatively small performance penalty for games but a higher power headroom that would be much better used for a GPU overclock (from e.g. 600 to 800MHz).

LegendVeteran

Hello, dear forum users. We want to thank you once again for your help, because you inspire us to make our project better. Only because of you, the release version of the device will include such features as:
Changeable battery
Key backlight
A programmable part of the lower display to use as keys or macroses
A virtual keyboard for the lower display, which supports full-screen games
Vibration
Special version of device in black color
Today, we have two pieces of news for you. One is good, while another is bad.
As well as many other distinctive features, which were simply impossible without your tips.
Besides that, we want to tell you two pieces of news. Unfortunately, one of them is bad. The good news in that we have finally reached agreement with investors and signed a contract. Thanks to that, the basic price of PGS will start from 230$ as we planned before. But there’s a bad news. One asshole shared our old and discarded video for Kickstarter and this video was reposted and published by the vast majority of journalists and media, which wrote about our release. As the result, our investors were able to find this video They decided that it can be a great idea to evaluate customers demand for device (as well for the first period of promotion) and insisted that the project has to be presented on Kickstarter.
We deeply apologize for any inconvenience those, who were waiting the device in retail. With respect to Kickstarter, we are happy to receive any support and help, but if you have any doubts in quality of the final product, we recommend you to wait until first reviews appear and official sales launched. As we planned before, official sales will start in December, immediately after the shipment of devices, which were pre-ordered by crowdfunding investors.
P.S. In the nearest future we will receive more complex prototypes of the device. We will make our best to publish a video review with several games testing.

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